The President Strikes Back

President Bush gave his first partisan speech in a long time yesterday, to the Republican governors. It was pretty good:

The other party’s nomination battle is still playing out. The candidates are an interesting group, with diverse opinions. For tax cuts, and against them. For NAFTA, and against NAFTA. For the Patriot Act, and against the Patriot Act. In favor of liberating Iraq, and opposed to it.
And that’s just one senator from Massachusetts.

Not bad. And I liked this:

“Our opponents say they approve of bold action in the world, but only if no other government disagrees,” he said. “They now agree that the world is better off with Saddam out of power. They just didn’t support removing Saddam from power. Maybe they were hoping he’d lose the next Iraqi election,” he said, as the crowd erupted in laughter and applause.

And, in a preview of the President’s most powerful campaign theme:

I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. I remember a lot that day. Workers in hard hats were shouting, “Whatever it takes.” One fellow pointed at me and said, “Don’t let me down.” As we all did that day, these men and women searching through the rubble took it personally. I took it personally. … I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies.